Poland: reform of tripartite social dialogue passed (in brief)

On 19 July 2018, Polish president Andrzej Duda formally passed the new law on the council for national social dialogue, a tripartite dialogue body (see article n°10553 on the bill). As a result of the reform, the council has wider powers and, in particular, the right of opinion on draft strategies and programmes, amongst other things. The new provision seeks to give social partners greater influence over the drawing up of government strategies “concerning the conditions for economic and social development, and boosting the country’s competitiveness and social cohesion”. The council can now address the National Assembly directly, in order to present its work and progress. The reform aims to improve social dialogue, conducted at national and regional level, by strengthening and specifying the competencies of regional social dialogue bodies. Furthermore, the National Labour Inspectorate has the right to provide a consultative opinion within the council, along side the presidents of the country’s central bank and of the Central Statistical Office of Poland (GUS)